SO,I'M A NIGHT-OWL. DOES THAT MAKE ME A
FEATHER- HEAD?

Welcome to my Garden.Here is the beauty of my world,in microcosm. It is filled with plants, flowers,animals,birds and persons who are so important to me,that all together, fill me with delight,every day.

MUSICAL TREATS-

"WHERE NO ONE STANDS ALONE "JIMMY SWAGGART: THERE IS ROOM AT THE CROSS FOR YOUDONE BY JIM RECORDS, 2006, THIS IS JIMMY'S NEWEST CD, WITH JIMMY ON THE VOCALS, AND THE PIANO, BACKED UP BY THE SILKY VOICES OF THE CRUSADE TEAM,AND FULL MUSICAL ACCOMPANYMENT, WITH JIMMY'S UNPARALLELED ARRANGEMENTS, TRULY AN OUTSTANDING TIME OF PRAISE AND WORSHIP,AND A COMFORT TO THE SOUL. (*****)

IT'S LUCKY WE METJANET PASCHAL: BILL GAITHER AND GLORIA: GOD BLESS AMERICAGAITHER GOSPEL SERIES LIVE FROM CARNEGIE HALL
WITH THEIR HOMECOMING FRIENDS-GET USED TO BEING HAPPY! (*****)

"UNBREAK MY HEART"IL DIVO: IL DIVO A NEW GROUP JUST INTRODUCED ON OPRAH AND THE TONIGHT SHOW, PUT TOGETHER BY SIMON C.
FROM AMERICAN IDOL...FOUR YOUNG MEN, ALL FROM DIFFERENT COUNTRIES, DOING HIP SONGS IN AN OPERATIC STYLE! A MUST HAVE FOR THOSE WHO LOVE MUSIC! YUMMY! SONG IN ITALIAN, OR SPANISH, OR ONE OF THOSE ROMANCE LANGUAGES...WHATEVER IT IS, IT WORKS FOR ME! (*****)

MOONLIGHT SONATABEETHOVEN: PIANO SOLOSSERENE, RESTFUL, AND BEAUTIFUL CLASSICAL MUSIC
TRY THIS IN FRONT OF THE FIRE WITH A GOOD BOOK
AND A GLASS OF WINE. REFLECTIVE.
HAS A WAY OF CALMING KIDS DOWN. (*****)

RHAPSODY IN BLUEGEORGE GERSHWIN: FANTASIA II; DISNEY ALSO AVAILABLE JUST UNDER IT'S OWN NAME,
ON CD OR CASSETTE. SYMPHONIC JAZZ.
GEORGOUS! (*****)

WORD LOVES

T.H. WHITE: "THE ONCE AND FUTURE KING"This is THE BOOK, without which no home library of good fiction is complete! The foundation for the complete Aruthurian ledgend, upon which was based "The sword in the Stone", "Camelot",as well as "Merlin!" There is even speculation of it being an allegory of Christ.A book you will read, and re-read for years to come! It is beautiful, romantic,realistic to the times,and even screamingly funny in places! (*****)

Barbra D'amato: Of course you know that chocolate is a vegetable!Anthology of murder mysteries! Funny, clever and so well written. If you love chocolate, you will drool over the title story! (*****)

VIRGINIA WOOLF edited by Susan Dick: THE Complete Shorter Fiction Of Virginia Woolf A book that follows Virginia Woolf's art of lyrical prose developement...encounter continuous delights for the mind! Be stirred by the color and vapours of Kew Gardens,sweet, magical pictures her words will create in your mind! (*****)

WARREN MURPHY & RICHARD SAPIR: THE DESTROYER SERIES FROM #1 TO THE 64TH, (WHICH IS ONLY AS FAR AS I HAVE GOTTEN IN MY COLLECTION) THIS MARTIAL ARTS SERIES HAS GOT IT ALL.REMO WILLIAMS IS A WISE-CRACKING "DEAD" COP, AND HIS MENTOR IS THE FRAGILE LOOKING CHIUN, MASTER OF SINANJU,
TOGETHER THEY COMPRISE THE KILLING ARM OF A BRANCH OF THE US GOVERNMENT THAT DOES NOT EXIST.

NORA LAM AND RICHARD SCHNIEDER: CHINA CRY: THE NORA LAM STORYTHE TRUE STORY OF A WOMAN WHO FOUND THE COURAGE TO LOVE AND THE STRENGTH TO SURVIVE AGAINST ALL ODDS. (*****)

Oh,I'm going to get razzed for this one, but then,stranger things have occurred to me at 3 a.m.! So, here goes.I know I have made it abundantly clear that I have church three times a week,and I watch late night talk shows. Namely, Jay Leno, for his wit, Headlines,and Jay walking: and Craig Ferguson for his honest wit, and things like, "Welcome back, my naughty little donkeys!" and the sound of a whip cracking!

At first glance, you would think that late night talk shows and church have nothing in common. But if you pick it apart, you will find there is more alike than you thought.

The warm up, while you are coming into church and getting settled, is music that brings you into the presence of the Lord. It puts you into the mood to receive his word.

The warm up for the late night talk show is done off camera, before they are on the air, but the purpose is the same. They tell those gathered there what is expected of them when the cameras are rolling ,and though the majority of the words that will be spread are foolishness,there is that kernel of truth,but with a spin of fun in it; but sometimes the spin is the truth, and can be deadly serious.

Then, the main speaker comes out. All eyes are on him, and he holds the audience in rapt attention. He speaks of daily life,and uses examples of current affairs that help you to understand more fully what is really happening. Sometimes you laugh, and sometimes you are saddened by what is said,but usually by the time he is finished, your spirits are lifted.

Then, the talk show takes a commercial break, and the church takes the tithes and offerings. You go to the kitchen for a snack,and the church has the communion, or the Lord's supper.

Then the show or the service resumes, and the talk show has their guests to come out and talk. Those who are promoting their new movie have clips, and talk about exciting things that happened on the set.

The church has those who wish to come up and testify, of healing, deliverance, or a miracle of salvation. Visiting missionaries come and talk about the places they have been,and sometimes they have films or clips from far away places,and pictures of churches they have helped to build,and even bring people with them who were pagans when they arrived,and got saved and are now preachers or missionaries themselves.

And finally, both end the experience with the "Special Song".

However, the difference here is, the song is the closing of the show, but in church, the song draws those who need prayer to the altar.

Anyone drawn to the singer when the talk show is ended usually just gets an autograph, if they are lucky,and that is the end of it. I might recall a joke, or a line that was funny, but for the most part, it was just time filled, until the next show.

But when you are drawn to the altar,and you kneel in prayer,and you are sincere, you make a connection. There is a timelessness about that touch from God, that nothing can duplicate. No matter what you have to say to the Lord,he is there, and he is listening,and if you are open to him,you can't help but get up with a feeling of peace and serenity,and an innate sense that everything is going to work out alright.

And so, although the formats seem to be quite similar, I guess that is the real difference. I am fond of Jay and Craig. They both seem like decent men, and for the most part, I enjoy hearing what they have to say,but when they are done, I don't feel as though I have learned anything.

But I Love God, and Love hearing a spirit-filled preacher saying,"If you have your bibles,open with me please to...; and he opens up the word of God,and makes the time you are studying come alive! These were real people,and God interacted with them,and it was all written down so that we would be able to understand that what was done with them were to be used as examples for us to bring us knowledge, thus helping us to make good choices in our daily lives. Time spent in a church like that helps you to come away with a feeling that you have learned something to make your life happier,and that is never a waste of time.

Most of us may never go before the Judge that jailed Paris Hilton...twice.

But all of us will go before THE JUDGE,and have to make account for our lives,and how we spent the gift of life that he gave us. I for one am glad that I understand that he is the same, yesterday, today,and forever,and if I repent of my sins,and ask forgiveness, he is faithful and just to forgive. To some, eternity is the unknown,and I don't blame them for being frightened of death. That's why I want to learn all I can about the Lord,and what to expect, because knowledge is power.

Many years ago, when I was a school kid, I recall walking home for lunch every day.Sounds strange, I know. These days one almost has to live right across the street from the school to be able to do such a thing, and I also recall there weren't many of us that did go home.But we would be dismissed a few minutes early, and then when we came back, if we were a little late, there would be a phone call to the home to be sure to send us back earlier the next day. I was never chastised for being late coming back. I would walk two blocks to the house in all kinds of weather and come in the back door, coming in on the basement landing,and then just three steps up to the kitchen door. Bama was always right there, with something fragrant and bubbling on the stove, having already started dinner,and usually with something in the oven as well. But along side all of that, she would also have a saucepan with my soup in it,hot and ready to be served,and at my place-setting on the kitchen table, my sandwich,or the bun for it, would already be there.And this is the way it would go. I would have either a bowl of chicken noodle soup,and a cold meat sandwich, or vegetable beef,with a hot dog, all steaming placed on the bun, ready for whatever condiments I wanted on it,or on Friday, there was always tomato soup,and a grilled cheese sandwich. With that, I had a glass of cold milk, and a handful of crackers. I walked in, took off my coat,washed my hands, sat down, and as we said our hello's, she would serve me my lunch.Set her own lunch on the table, we would say grace...or the blessing,she would turn on the radio, and while we ate, she would listen to her "story". The only time I was allowed to talk, was when the soap commercials were on, but I didn't care. I had just so much time to eat, run up to the bathroom, and then be on my way again, back to school.Sometimes along side my plate there would also be an orange, an apple, or a cupcake,which I usually had to just stuff in my coat pocket and eat it on the way back to school.

Then all at once, things changed. Oh, the lunch stayed the same, but now, instead of sitting at the table with me,Bama would go into the living room for her story.That was the year we got our television set.And, once I finished lunch, I would go join her,and watch" The Guiding Light". The stories were very much like the ones on the radio, but now there was no narrator. We could actually see the people as they moved through their normal little lives,see the tears when the problems came, and watch as they either went to their pastor,or cried out to God to help them. Or, as they rejected the pastor's advice, and got themselves into terrible trouble,and then in the end, a policeman, or a doctor,or the pastor would deliver the moral of the story. I really don't remember much about those stories now,but I am sure those morals are embedded in my sub-conscious,and are responsible for my cautious nature when I am approached with an unsavory suggestion,or a few guys getting their faces slapped.

All I really remember is the stories were sweet and wholesome and suitable for a child to watch...unlike today, where you wouldn't dare let an elementary school child watch them,for fear they would pick up the kind of behavior the characters now act out. I mean, after all. The only time you see scenes in todays soap operas set in a church, is for a wedding, or a funeral,and then, only for startling revelations!!

Of course, she has always been fabulous! I have watched her career since she started into show business,and I was just a kid, and she was quite mature even then, but when she came out on stage tonight, she looked great, and did a small portion of her stand-up routine, just the way she used to. Of course, back then, she always had a looong cigarette holder,and a cigarette in it, which she used as a prop to gesture with,and she'd take drags off it for effect, because her timing is such,that for some jokes, she had to let the audience think about it, before she dropped the laugh line!Of course, the cigarette and holder were missing, and yet, did you notice? That hand was held out there, just the way she always did, but with nothing in it.The gesture was there, even if the prop wasn't. But tonight when she came out, wearing that shiny silver jacket, looking so cool, and then she strips it off, saying she looked like a baked potato, I knew she was just as sharp and witty as ever. And when she announced that she would be 90 in just a couple of months, I was amazed! She looks better now than she did when she started, as I mentioned in an earlier post. If you saw the show, and taped it like I did, then you know whereof I speak!

Those clips were priceless! The get-ups,and the fright wigs! Wow!Another grand lady of the "theater" who never found it necessary to resort to nastiness in order to get a laugh. And, the mark of a true trooper, when she bungled the line about the rug, she recovered,and went on! Now THAT is a sign of greatness.

Yeah, she doesn't move as fast or as fluidly as she once did, and some of that hysterically funny laugh she once had is toned down a bit,but, HEY! Don't we all just hope we are doing as well as she is when we hit 90 years old? And I am just all agog that Leno was able to get her to promise to come back on the show for her birthday! That is going to be fabulous!

And yes, I did not stutter.I said Ninety Years OLD...not this stupid, so many years YOUNG that folks are insisting upon lately. After all, a person has to have something on the ball to get to that age, let's not demean it, by calling it young!

It's true! The week of January 22, 2007, Jay Leno just told his audience that Phillis Diller is going to be guest on his show this week! Get your VCR's ready,and consult your local t.v. schedules for the time and day! I know,many of you don't even know who she is, but let me tell you, if she does any of her old comedy routines, you will love her! She was the first of very few top female stand up comics who did her own material, long before anyone ever heard of Rosanne Barr,and all of her jokes came from her own life. She wasn't glamorous, or (forgive me Phillis) even pretty, but she was real, and then took what she had, ratted her hair out to the max, wore outrageous costumes, and talked about her husband, "Fang",and her homemaking "tricks",like how to use up leftover sauerkraut; Silver it,and hang it on your tree! It stinks, but it's beautiful! And then, she would throw her head back and give out the most raucous laugh! It was so insane you couldn't help but laugh too! I first heard about her when she was still appearing at the "Hungry Eye!" In California, and it wasn't very long at all, she was totally famous!

Since then she has made enough to rid herself of "Fang" and had some beautifying work done,and she looks better now than ever before. Let's hope she never lost her sense of humor,and that wonderful laugh!

And with that phrase,George had me,because he sold the line with a look, at once bewildered and rather impatient that he has to explain this concept. I liked him long before I got saved, but even then his language was not the sort that I appreciated or would ordinarily tolerate in my presence. But, there is nothing ordinary about George Carlin. He truly is a thinker. A brilliant man,who also happens to be incredibly funny...and unbelievably earthy.But the beauty of his mind is such, that you can delete...or substitute certain fringe words, for more acceptable words,and his jokes are still funny. That puts him on a level far above comics like Andrew Dice Clay and others of his ilk that couldn't entertain anyone if they didn't have profanity,obscenity,rudeness and filth to shock his audiences with. With Carlin, you don't get posing on the latest rumor, you get insights into every day things. Take sports, for example. Now, I am not a big sports buff. Neither is Mr. Carlin, to hear him tell it. It's been years since I heard him do this bit, but I think I can recap what he has to say about sports, albeit,not as humorously. He takes the position that not all activities called sports are actually sports!

Running?-Running is not a sport, it is a way to get from one place to another really fast! Especially if your being chased.

Bicycling?-Bicycling is not a sport, it's just another form of running, only with a mechanical device to make you go even faster!

Swimming?-Swimming is not a sport, it's a way to keep from drowning!

There's more to it, but the upshot is, for an activity to be considered a sport, there must be balls involved. And yet, he had things to say on that score too. Golf! What kind of a sportsman plays golf? You take a tiny ball, and hit it with a long stick,and then you walk after it....and then....you hit it again! Hey! You were lucky enough to find it the first time! Pick the ball up, put it in your pocket and go the heck home! Most other sports are just new ways of playing an old game.According to George, tennis is nothing new or even that classy...tennis is just table ping-pong played while standing on the table! His recounting of this bit is hysterically funny, while mine is just a lame retelling of it,and I remember it so imperfectly that I am sure that none of this was the slightest bit amusing to you. But that is not because I didn't use his vernacular,but because I am not George Carlin,with his timing, wit, and mugging that goes along with fresh-eyed take on ordinary things, that makes him an extraordinary entertainer. But, he's more than an entertainer, he is an artist. The buzz is, George is releasing a new book called:"3 X Carlin:An Orgy of George"!

It was the last episode of this year. There won't be another until January,22,2007, and as well written and tight as this NBC jewel of a show has been, I had high expectations for it to solve some apparent problems, and contradictions in the story line. NO. SUCH. LUCK. Instead of solving something.... anything, and then moving on to a new problem, leaving us satisfied on one hand, and hopeful, and then left with a sudden cliffhanger,they had nearly every story-line going sour at the same time.

This did not leave me with the feeling that I just can't wait until the twenty-second of January. No. Rather, it left me feeling annoyed. Irritated that they had even bothered to air this show. What was the point? I hated the paradox of the kid with the bloody tee shirt falling to the pavement,and waking up somewhere, somewhen, else,while his body seemed to die behind him. The cute little cheerleader, seemingly saved, and then caught in the clutches of the bad guy again. I detested that.

Who is going to hang on that long, only to be further irritated when the show resumes?

Little Gwyn Mackenzie, still child enough to want a Barbie van and a doll who changes her expressions,is adult enough to do a very mature interview, and sings with a trained, cultured voice! I should have known the moment she walked out in her black brocade bodice and bright red billowed skirt, with the frill of a black can-can peeking out under her skirt that she was going to be singing in German,for such is a traditionally German outfit,and I am at least 1/4 German descent. I studied both the language and the culture in high school, because my father was half German. Much to my chagrin, I can't tell you what the title of the song was,and I will probably misspell the name of the piece, but she said she would be singing "DA Hoya De la Kote La Pensen";However, our local expert Danny says she sang Mozart's " Der Holle Rache" from "La Flauta Magica"( and even I know that is the magic flute) and being sweet, she declined to translate the name of the piece, only to say that the first word was" H E double hockey sticks." (meaning hell.) Now, I ask you, is that sweet, or is that sweet? She was inspired to sing Opera after hearing Kathleen Battle singing a duet with some man, and she just knew that's what she wanted to do. Now, she has been singing since she was three, and singing Opera since she was four,so that right there made me aware that we were in for a treat, and she did not disappoint!

Without a doubt, this girl has an amazing voice,but in true operatic fashion, she is not one of these singers to whom close ups are kind. Even though she is a lovely girl,Gwyn is trained well enough to make her facial expressions completely unwatchable, except from a distance. It all has to do with the way they have to hold their mouths to make those sounds come out properly!

But on stage, with costuming and make-up,the right lighting and a full Orchestra, from a balcony, through Opera glasses, she Shall be a beautiful Diva!

In addition, considering the comments left by my thoughtful, intelligent readers, this young lady is destined to be the center of controversy for some time to come!

UPDATE! Gwyn will be on Oprah's show MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12!! GET your VCR's ready!!

Wow! Wasn't that another amazing performance? I totally agree with one of my commenters,Ashley,who was sweet enough to leave me a comment,telling me how awesome Gwyn is! And in response to Stacey, I haven't heard of a CD coming out, but as soon as I get wind of one, I will let you know! (updated Feb. 12)

Okay Mack! Thank you for your brilliant input! I too have totally enjoyed the forum we have all created,and am thrilled that so many musically literate individuals are participating! Thank you all! (updated Feb.17)

Okay friends! I just got the ultimate update of all! You can read the particulars for yourself in the comments from Barbara V. from Dreamland Entertainment. Gwyn now has her own website, where for one thing, you can hear her singing! I know because I checked it out myself, and you will be able to get all the information on where she is going to appear,and as it's still a work in progress, be patient,there will soon be videos,and her singing more than just three songs! Personally, I thought her voice wasn't quite up to the "Habenera" from Carmen, but hey! She's only eight years old! (updated Feb.27)

I realize that making this information public is going to mean less of you coming to my site, but it was the right thing to do, to publish the comment,and update this post! And little Gwyn deserves to know how many folks love her singing!

It is now posted on her website that Gwyn will be appearing on Ellen's show March 14! That is the latest! Stay tuned!

So now, we have just one episode left before sometime in January? So, what do you think? Was this just a quirk, or did they do it to us on purpose? I don't know about you, but Yon son and I are totally hooked on Heroes!

I mean, I love that little oriental guy who can stop time,and shift around at will, but who hasn't got a clue how to be certain where he is going...or how far back. or ahead he is going when he changes times!

Of the weak Nikki, or the powerful Jessica, I really like Nikki's alter ego, don't you?

The brothers who can fly? What's not to like?

And, the cheerleader. I think she is just grand. But, why do they have to save her?

How can saving her save the world?Are they going to be able to answer any of these questions before they shut it down until January?

I really have my doubts.

And I really don't think it's such a smooth move on their parts to leave the fans hanging that long...we just might lose interest!

I've heard a lot about it, but I hadn't seen the show, "Ugly Betty" for a number of reasons. The time slot is inconvenient,as is the station. I don't like cable because of all the boundaries the programing crosses, so all I have are the three major networks, and PBS. And the station that carries ABC locally is interrupted by a hill....I mean a huge hill, between the station, and my home. Sometimes we can get it in, and sometimes we just can't. Unless you have tried the fun world of rabbit ears, you have no concept of how awful reception can be. Shadows,and snow, and drifting ghostly images from co-channel interference. Irregardless of the inconveniences, I still won't have cable, but I did find a way to view the programs on ABC,on the Internet. In fact, I glutted myself shamelessly on "Ugly Betty" all week -end, after Campmeeting was over, and I was still wakefull, and I absolutely love her!What a concept! In a world where looks has it all, to finally come across a program where the young lady IS a lady...and smart, with a warm loving heart, and trying to do it all, and do things right,and has the courage to stand up for what she believes in, well, I was totally captivated!

Well, to be more accurate, I guess one would have to say, what performances, because the whole program was terribly good,with Alec Baldwin doing Tony Bennet, and then the real Tony Bennet showing up as his supposedly " second rate" guest. It was very clever and all very tongue in cheek.

But then to have Christina coming out and doing such a beautiful number, with a black suit and black hat, and all that glorious blonde hair out to there, great back-up dancers and singers, and her amazing voice, and having done away with all that dirt and grunge she was into for a while, and I was so tickled I got it on tape,and then she came back again, and did a lovely torch song,and I was totally delighted! And I thought, well, for once they didn't have a lame musical guest, and she chose the perfect numbers to display her talents,and I thought that was that. Usually, the musical guest only does two numbers, but they fooled me! Because I had forgotten they had TWO musical guests, and when it was announced, I couldn't get to the record button too quickly! To my complete and utter delight, Tony Bennet did a duet with Christina: and it like to brought the house down!

In a tux, and a retro chic gown, Bennet and Christina did "Steppin out with my baby!" Ala Fred Astaire and (perhaps) Judy Garland(?) very uptown, but not stiff, they sang together as though they had worked together for years. With no missed cues, but plenty of winking, smiling and laughs, their voices blended perfectly,and Christina sold the song with tiny suggestive hip action, that was completely clean!In short, an act that was straight out of the 40's!